So you’ve heard that Viagra can help with erectile problems and you decided to try it. If you’re wondering why it stays effective in your body for a just short time, this article is for you
Sildenafil citrate is the active constituent in Viagra, one of the world’s most common medications for treating erectile dysfunction (ED). Viagra is not a cure for the condition, it only treats the symptoms of ED: taking a tablet will improve the blood flow to the penis and consequently help achieve an erection firm enough for satisfying intercourse. However, as is the case with every medication, the active constituent in Viagra has a time range in which it remains active in the body. This determines for how long the drug will exert its effects on erections.
How Long does it Take for Viagra to Start Working?
Taken in a tablet form, the medication usually starts to take effect 30 – 60 minutes following ingestion. However, the amount of time required for it to start working may change, depending on several factors. Every man has an individual response time to the medication, and factors such as when and how much a person has eaten before taking the drug will make it longer to start working – sometimes up to 2 hours after ingestion.
It is important to remember that taking Viagra will not induce an erection automatically. It will only work if a man has a desire for sex and he feels sexually aroused following sexual stimulation.
Viagra’s Duration of Action and Why is it Relatively Short?
Generally, Viagra’s active constituent remains in the system for about 20 hours until it fully clears, though in practice, its effects are maintained for 4 hours on average when taking a 100mg tablet (the exact time frame may vary from patient to patient). This is because liver enzymes start to gradually metabolize the active constituent, and after approximately 4 hours there is a 50% decrease in its blood concentration (which is too low to cause a significant effect), compared to the peak reached during the first 2 hours following ingestion.
As mentioned, most healthcare providers will recommend taking the drug 30 -60 minutes before sexual intercourse, but in principle, it could be taken up to 4 hours prior to sexual activity. So, if for example, a man who is sexually stimulated has intercourse 4 hours after taking Viagra, evidence suggests he will still be able to achieve an erection lasting for about 15 minutes. However, although the drug is effective for 4 hours, the effect at this stage will be much less pronounced than at 2 hours.
In the graph below you can see Sildenafil’s blood concentrations following ingestion of a 100 mg tablet by healthy men: blood concentrations peak after an hour following ingestion, and this is when the drug’s effect is highest. Thereafter, blood concentrations start to decrease and the drug’s effect gradually diminishes[1].
*This graph is taken from Viagra‘s leaflet (US) by Pfizer[1]
Can External Factors Influence Viagra’s Effects?
A few major factors can affect how long Viagra will last after ingestion:
- Metabolism rate – everyone has a different metabolism rate. For some people it’s fast and consequently they metabolize the drug faster. For some people it’s slower and consequently the effects of the drug last longer.
- Age – The effects of Viagra tend to last longer for older men over 65. This is because the metabolism rate slows down as we age (i.e., the drug’s liver metabolism rate decreases) while Viagra remains active in the system for longer.
- Food – eating a heavy meal before using Viagra can significantly slow its absorption rate, so it will take longer to start working. Fatty food can likewise delay the drug’s absorption and prolong the onset of its effects. It doesn’t mean you need to skip meals when treated with Viagra, you only need to time them: either take the drug on an empty stomach, or wait an hour after a meal before taking Viagra. Don’t consume Grapefruit before taking Viagra. In one study it was found that Viagra’s absorption was 23% higher when consumed with Grapefruit, but the desired effect was delayed. Likewise, avoid pomegranate and pomegranate juice. A study found that the use of Viagra with pomegranate juice can lead to priapism – persistent painful erection which is considered a medical emergency.
- Alcohol – consuming more than one unit of alcohol can interfere with the drug’s absorption and effects, thus it’s advisable to avoid taking them together.
- Medications – some medications interact with Viagra and can undermine its effects on erections. Examples include certain antibiotics, certain blood pressure lowering medications, a drug for the treatment of HIV and more.
- Underlying health conditions – liver and kidney disease might slow the drug’s metabolism and clearance rate and consequently prolong its duration of action. Diseases such as diabetes, MS and atherosclerosis on the other hand might undermine the drug’s effectiveness and shorten its duration of action.
- The emotional state – nervousness, anxiety and especially performance anxiety, depression and stress can influence the body’s response to sexual stimulation (as mentioned, Viagra will not cause an erection without sexual stimulation). In these circumstances, the medication may not last long or be fully effective, the erection might not be fully rigid leading to erection loss.
How is it Possible to Treat the Root Cause and not Just ED Symptoms?
Viagra is a very popular medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction but it does not solve the problem by treating its root cause. It merely helps increase the blood flow to the penis for a limited period of time.
Men who are interested in treating the root cause should learn about Vertica – a medical device based on novel radio frequency technology, designed to restore the spontaneous erectile mechanism. A problem with the natural erectile mechanism is a very common cause of ED, which occurs due to the degradation of collagen fibers in the penile tissue responsible for “locking” the blood in the organ during sexual activity. Vertica, using RF energy, can restore the collagen fibers in the penile tissues and consequently prevent venous leak (also called penile venous insufficiency), while rehabilitating the spontaneous erectile mechanism. For further reading about the Vertica device »
[1] /https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2007/020895s027lbl.pdf
The Company hereby clarifies that the information contained on the website is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical and healthcare advice, and does not constitute medical advice or opinion. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any medical condition or question you may have regarding a medical condition.
